Process for maturing immature and frost-bitten cotton-bolls.



3 B. HALL.

PROCESS FOR MATURING IMMATURE AND FROST BITTEN COTTON BOD S.

APPLICATION FILED CGLHZ-i, 1912. RENE-WED EAR. 2, 1914. 1,1 1 ,928.

Patemed EJept. 15, 191 .2

@NVENTGR JOHN B. HALL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS FOR MATURING IMMATURE AND FROST-BITTEN COTTON-ROLLS.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

Application med October 24, 1912, Serial No. 727,489. Renewed March 2,1914. Serial No. 822,075.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. HALL, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and countv of Philadcl hia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Process for Maturing Immature and Frost-Bittcn Cotton-Bolls, of which the following is a specification.

In the art of cotton production, where the growth is heavy or where alate maturing variety has been planted, a considerable proportion of thecotton bolls fail to 0 en, especially if frost comes early in the fa 1,since any condition or factor that tends to promote the. rowth ofcotton, such as a rich soil or higi fertilization or plenty of moisturein the soil tends to promote an unduly late growth of cotton and underthese conditions, it is liable to e can ht by frost and a large numberof the bol s fail to open. Under present conditions, these cotton bollshave no commercial value whatever, since as at present utilized, theironly value is when plowed under in suflicient quantities, they act tofertilize the soil, if there are very many on the land. These immaturecotton bolls being filled with cotton, it is evident that in case of anearly frost or in case of the crop being late, there is liable to be anenormous loss to the planter, since the bolls are commonly permitted togo to waste on the cotton plants or stalks or on the ground, no attempthaving been heretofore made, so far as I am aware, to chemically treatsaid bolls so as to cause the ods to open, and thus enable the cotton tobe removed therefrom for subsequent treatment in the usual way. Underthese conditions, there is not only a great loss to the )lanter of allthe cotton, which is contained in or may be obtained from these immatureand frost bitten bolls, by my novel process to be hereafter described,but there is also afforded an opportunity for the destructive pestcalled t to cotton boll-weevil to propagate in said immaturcd or frostbitten bolls and extend its destructive area from State to State of thepresent cotton belt, it having been variously estimated that theercentage of loss to the South from frost bitten and immature cottonbolls runs up into many million dollars annually, while the loss fromthe ravages of the cotton boll-weevil last year alone was estimated bythe Government authorities at fifty million dollars, and is constantlyincreasing.

My present invention relatcs to a novel process for artificially maturinfrost bitten and immature cotton bolls, whereby I am enabled to take allof these heretofore useless and apparentl dead, frost bitten or immaturecotton bo ls and treat the same so that said bolls or pods open in ashort period of time subsequent to my novel treatment either on thestalk or off the stalk, thereby enabling the cotton contained therein tobe readily removed for the purpose of ginning or subsequent treatment,my novel invention not only resulting in reclaiming for the cottonplanter a large proportion of a most valuable article of commerce, thatis now allowed to go absolutely to waste, but, in addition, by myprocess, I assist to exterminate the destructive est known as the cottonboll-weevil since y utilizing the immature or frost bitten bolls and thecotton contained therein as hereafter set forth, I destroy or remove toa rent extent the opportunit for said weeviI to propagate therein, andam also enabled to increase the no duction of an important staplearticle, which is constantly increasing in value and demand.Furthermore, by the employment of my process, the North, East and \Vest,in addition to the South, can now economically and safely raise cotton,because by my process a planter is enabled to mature the cotton from theimmature boll, since the disadvantages of a cold climate or a shortseason are entirely obviated, as I do not need a long season to maturethe bolls, as is now necessary. Furthermore it will be seen that by theemployment of my process, countless abandoned farms in the North, Eastand \Vest can be made now available to be at once planted with cottonand given over to this product, which is much more valuable andprofitable than wheat, corn or rye, which has been estimated to costfrom seven to thirty times the amount of fertilizer and other expenses,as compared with cotton.

The ingredients employed in carrying out my process are verycheap andinexpensive chemicals, which are within the reach of anyone, and soinexpensive that any planter or anyone else interested in the cottonindustry can readily procure and apply the same in carrying out mymethod, 511100 in carrying out the steps of my process, the cotton bollscan either be treated under certain conditions and matured directly onthe stalks themselves, or they can be preferably cut down with scythesor any other sharp implement or preferably mechanically stripped fromtheir stalks while in immature condition, thus saving the presentexpensive and slow process of picking out only the ripe bolls, whereby Iam enabled to use any and all bolls and therefore all the bolls immatureor matured on a cotton stalk plant can be quickly and expeditiouslgathered at the same time, and the immature bolls subsequently andexpeditiously treated by my novel process.

In carrying out the novel steps of my improved process, I apply to thecotton bolls a maturing chemical composition which is used in a drystate, is non-explosive, nonpoisonous, harmless in every way and can becheaply procured.

To the above ends, my invention consists of a novel process of treatingimmature or frost bitten cotton bolls, whereby I produce artificially .amatured condition, which would be produced by nature, if all atmosphericand climatic conditions were perfect or favorable, and I furthereliminate the opportunity for the existence or propaga tion of thedestructive pest known as the cotton boll-weevil. i

To the above ends, my invention consists of a novel process for treatingimmature or frost bitten cotton bolls.

It also consists of a novel composition of matter to be applied to suchbolls.

For the purpose 0': illustratim my invention, I have shown one form ofapparatus, wherein the steps of the same may be carried out, but it willbe understood that the maturing composition may be applied in adifferent manner and different mechanisms from that shown may beemployed, and I do not therefore desire to be limited to any F on thestalk.

particular mechanism for carrying out the steps of my invention, andfurthermore, the proportions of the ingredients employed for thematuring composition may be varied according to requirements or toatmospheric or climatic conditions.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of one manner of carrying out thenovel steps of my process for maturing immature or frost bitten cottonbolls, while the same are Fig. 2 represents a perspec tive view ofanother form of mechanism for carrying out the steps of my novel processshowing the immature cotton bolls gathered upon the floor of a suitablebuilding or outhouse and being treated therein.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings: In carryin out the steps of my novel process,I employ a suitable maturingmatcrial or composition, which I have foundin practice to produce the most efficient results and in the simpliestembodiment of my process, I place the matreatment in turing powder orcomposition in a suitable hand-operated bellows, whereby the powder maybe applied to the cotton boll, either on the stalk or when removed fromthe stalk and gathered within a suitable building.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, I produce the maturingcomposition by connningling talcum, starch and a suitable granulardetritus with a texture coarser than clay and finer than gravel, saidparts being commingled in substantia-ll the followingproporticns,-onc-quarte ta cum, one-half starch, and one-quarter .nulardetritus with a texture coarser than clay and finer than gravel. Ifdesired, the granular detritus may be omitted from the compost tion andthe talcum and starch onlyem ployed, their proportions being slightly increased or diminished accordin to requirements or according toatmospheric or climatic conditions. I have found that by a. plying thismaturing composition to die cotton bolls, either on or off the stalk atrepeated intervals during a short period, that within said period theimmature or frost bitten bolls will open, and the cotton can then bereadily removed therefrom in the usual way and prepared for subsequent acotton gin or other mechanism. 7

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1' designates a.

cotton plant, 2 an open boll, and 3 the closed or immature or frostbitten bolls.

4 designates the bellows, which is adapted to be loaded with thematuring composition, composed of talcum, starch and granular detrituswith a textur coarser than clay and finer than gravel, said bellowsbeing adapted to be actuated by the hands of the operator 5.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the operator as .applying the maturingcomposition directly to the immature or frost bitten bolls 3, while onthe stalk, while in Fig. 2, I have shown the operator as applying thematuring composition to the immature or frost bitten bolls 3 which havebeen gathered or stripped from their stalks in any suitable manner andplaced upon the floor 6 of a suitable apartment, warehouse or Outhouse7.

It will be understood that the novel steps of my invention in itssimplest embodiment may be carried out, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,wherein I have shown a hand-operated hollows discharging the maturingcomposition directly upon the immature or frost bitten bolls, but itwill be apparent that where it is desired to carry out my inventionon alarger scale, I may employ any suitable kind of a rotarv or other fan orneumatic blowing apparatus having an inlet for the against the immatureor frost bitten cotton I creased, sc ihat in case of a prolon ed war,

indefinitely greaier supply WOIUd be on inn 1 ready for emergency thanhas heretoi-e been ihe case.

5 I in carrying out my inveniicn, I use the 1 chemicals e iployed in drystate and as the n I same are lien-explosive and nonpoisoneus,

q" E ney harmless in every Way and can be perfect clinvery cheaplyprocured in quantities. I do 0 It will be 310i desire be limited to anyparticular art Iilzlf r mechanism for carrying out the steps of my whichnevel process, as the same may be applied manner 6 by hand 01 bypneumatic or other machintziin my, and it is 11150 understood that theproum p TE]. the ingredients 01 my ma tering chen'n ccmpcslticn emnflyediz y be varied actrec cc reqmz ments or to atmospheric the condiuions,and, if desiz'cd, the \Yhicn ia'itus Z employ can be cmitteci her 0tiens varied according to re- 1- i: A 'metic or atmospheric coni'ibersstate 1 Se as am aware, I am fixefirst in of Sfiiu 111* A the are toartificially open cottcn boils 01' the gradueiiy, es ("0 e QQEZQZiOP. 0;contraclike and mature the cotton fibers therein 0: ing th shell noii scpening of i0 cause said fibers to approach a natural the latte: z liefibers 0r matured condiion by the application of the mitten suimbiechemical or other maturing agent eras-ion sec and my laims in theprccess herein above 31; process 0 set'fst l fiheir bread aspects are tobe period of cnn 'nei. with. the cnrresponding scape acmy novel cordedin ten or i pioneer invention and are not .7 cred in their bread aspectsto enyper- :ieular chemical or any particular artificial i are N :1 I

35 0: other maturing agent,

ing" thus described my inventicn, What as new desire so secure by Letnt,is: 'ii e ierein described nrncess of meter i0 e 02- frost 9 en cotficnboiis, in erificieily contz ecsing the e11 of .1 cczton Icon, and nextof cottcn contained 1 Ila-3111's,!

cf nmturing hamster-s er seeds 0 cotton bola iiich consisa in hails mapplying ccsaen ball, a n1 e, ecco bing cempnsiien, censreciing hadmade. sheii sei-ii boil, and iesely oil as the 4? 1's 0' he cettnnceniaeined way, etie 0 mai ers state. duc'tion uerein described processmanurthe cii p re er frcs'v binsn cc biacn ieoiis, tnreci new whichccniists eppiyin e such 120115 e smokeless maturing comeosition,composed of eicnni the iznmsi same, i composition Keing enuziily toadhere said feciis and cause size same mired sci 2.0 u -01411; and open,i

"he hese n c iescribeci process cf ms- 50 e1" frcse-ifs'sencetton boils,

' applying csisicn ccmposed remier defines. with exzturs e: e, 51 andfiner $531321 rave seie butter, in

gz'estiy c H basis to:

out the shell of the boll and gradually ezpending the fibers or" theimmature cotton to induce a matured state of said fibers.

7. The herein described rocess of ma turing immature or frost bittenbolls, consisting in applying a chemical a'gentto the urface of the bollto gradually curl open the exterior of the bell and simultaneouslyexpand the cotton fibers to induce the matured state of said fibers.

8. The herein described rocess of maturing immature or frost bitten,detached, cotton bolls, which consists in artificially contracting theouterfibers of the shell of a cotton boll and'expanding the fibers ofthe cotton contained therein into a natural or matured state.

- JOHN B. HALL.

Witnesses E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS, FRED. D. MAISGH.

